A small charity caring for moorland ponies has launched an urgent fundraising appeal after an outbreak of the highly infectious disease strangles.

Bodmin Moor Pony Rehabilitation, based near Washaway, says it “desperately needs help” to fund ongoing tests and treatment for the nine ponies currently being treated for the respiratory infection.

Charity founder Shelley Oldfield described the outbreak as a “terribly cruel blow” and a “huge worry” for the future, particularly on top of already escalated winter care costs.

In the event of an outbreak of strangles, all infected or suspect horses should be isolated immediately

“All of our ponies on the yard have been tested with only four out of nine residents testing positive or subsequently contracting the infection,” explained Shelley.

“All ponies are now having three weekly blood tests and screening and all positive cases will be treated by way of regular guttural flushing to test and clear the infection. This will be an ongoing process until all are clear of infection and our self-imposed quarantine procedures will be lifted.

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“We have just had our first bill from our vets for the first round of testing and initial consultation for the original case, which comes in at £1,111.53. We now face a minimum of £99.50 per pony for visit, blood testing and swabs every three weeks, plus costs of guttural scope and flush for four of them.”

Shelley added: “There will be at least two more rounds of testing so I’m estimating a further £2,500 to £3,000 minimum on top of this bill.

Bodmin Moor Pony Rehabilitation was formed in 2014 as a small family-run cause to help some of the abandoned ponies of Bodmin Moor

“This is devastating for a small charity like ourselves and we desperately need help to fund these ongoing tests and treatment. This is without our monthly winter care costs of providing accommodation, feed and bedding for our 23 rescue residents.”

Strangles is an infection of the upper tract, affecting mainly the nose and throat. It can be passed on through direct contact with an infected horse, or indirectly through sharing water, feed buckets, equipment, pasture, cars travelling from one site to another or a human passing the bacteria on their clothing or skin.

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Typical signs of strangles include depression, loss of appetite or difficulty eating, raised temperature, a cough, nasal discharge, swollen glands in the throat region and rupture of glands with abscess material. In the most severe cases, horses and ponies can experience difficulty breathing.

Shelley said regular veterinary bills to deal with the outbreak would cost “many thousands” She added: “We are appealing to people to help us as this could be devastating for our charity and future work helping ponies in desperate need of a future.”